Legal Definitions - danelaw

Danelaw was a system of rules introduced by the Danes during their invasions of England in the ninth century. It was mainly maintained in the midland and eastern counties where the invasions occurred. The Danish law was enforced primarily in the ninth and tenth centuries in the counties where it prevailed. The word "law" is believed to have been given to the English language by the Danes.

When the Danes conquered England, their Danelaw prevailed in the eastern parts of the country. The counties where the Danish law was enforced included Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire.

During the reign of King Edgar to Edward the Confessor, a uniform law was compiled that included some Danelaw components. This shows how the Danelaw system of rules influenced the English legal system.

Overall, the Danelaw system of rules had a significant impact on the English legal system and the counties where it was enforced.